grand river parks a plan for the belwood lake conservation area …€¦ · foot, along the...
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Belwood Lake Conservation Area519-843-2979 | [email protected]
The Shand Dam is the largest �ood control and water supply dam in the Grand River watershed. Belwood Lake o�ers hiking, picnicking, swimming, powerboating, and boat rentals. It is known for its trophy pike �shing, but in recent years it has become a strong walleye and smallmouth bass �shery. The Lake is open for ice �shing when conditions allow.
Below the dam: As a result of the bottom draw reservoir, the downstream section of river from Belwood to Inverhaugh o�ers some of the best brown trout �shing in North America. The Grand River in this area also has excellent catches of pike, perch and smallmouth bass. Note: Special Fishing Regulations apply.
Brant Conservation Area519-752-2040 | [email protected]
This park o�ers swimming, picnicking, hiking and camping. Anglers �sh for smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow trout, channel cat and pike.
Outside the park: Downstream of Brantford, the Grand River becomes much wider and more turbid, resembling a lake environment. Walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, rainbow trout, pike, mooneye and channel cat are commonly found all the way to Dunnville. Note: Special Fishing Regulations apply on the Grand River from Paris to Brantford.
Byng Island Conservation Area905-774-5755 | [email protected]
This park near Dunnville o�ers water-skiing, swimming, picnicking, camping, hiking and �shing. The Grand River and Sulphur Creek are home to walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike, crappie and channel cat. A �shway in the park allows 27 di�erent species of �sh to access the river upstream to Caledonia.
Outside the park: Fish in the lower river for walleye, northern pike, bass, rainbow trout, perch, channel cat and crappie.
Conestogo Lake Conservation Area519-638-2873 | [email protected]
This large �ood-control and water supply reservoir is on the Conestogo River near Drayton. This park o�ers hiking, camping, picnicking, powerboating and swimming. Conestogo Lake contains perch, pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Walleye and crappie are caught occassionally. Anglers can also �sh in the river for pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, brown trout and rainbow trout.
Elora Gorge Conservation Area519-846-9742 | [email protected]
The scenic gorge is one of the top tourist destinations in southern Ontario. Visitors enjoy camping, tubing, picnicking and hiking. The Grand River �ows through the park, providing access to fabulous brown trout and pike �shing.
Outside the park: From West Montrose, the Grand �ows south to Conestogo. Deep pools and runs hold large numbers of smallmouth bass.
Guelph Lake Conservation Area519-824-5061 | [email protected]
Guelph Lake is located on the Speed River just upstream of Guelph. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, picnicking and excellent �shing. Guelph Lake supports a great black crappie, pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and perch �shery. Outboard motors are not permitted.
Laurel Creek Conservation Area519-884-6620 | [email protected]
Located on Laurel Creek in Waterloo, Laurel Creek Conservation Area o�ers swimming, hiking, picnicking and camping. Anglers can �sh for rock bass and carp. Outboard motors are not permitted.
Outside the park: As the Grand �ows through the urban areas of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge it provides excellent habitat for smallmouth bass.
Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area519-442-4721 | [email protected]
Surrounded by mature hardwood forests, this area near Paris o�ers hiking, swimming, picnicking, camping and canoeing. The kettle lake is easily accessed by shore and canoe rentals are available. Largemouth bass and pan�sh are abundant. Outboard motors are not permitted. The park is open for ice �shing when conditions allow.
Outside the park: Whitemans Creek, west of Brantford, is well known for its brown and rainbow trout in the lower stretches. Special regulations apply to one section at the Apps' Mill Nature Centre.
Rockwood Conservation Area519-856-9543 | [email protected]
This picturesque park is located in Rockwood on the Eramosa River. Rockwood o�ers canoe rentals, swimming, hiking, picnicking and camping. Smallmouth and largemouth bass and stocked brown trout can be found in both the river and the reservoir. Outboard motors are not permitted.
Outside the park: The Eramosa River meets the Speed River in Guelph. The �shery here includes smallmouth bass, pike and brown trout.
Shade's Mills Conservation Area519-621-3697 | [email protected]
This area on Mill Creek in Cambridge o�ers hiking, swimming, picnicking and �shing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, crappie and pike. A boat launch is available; electric motors only. The park is open for ice �shing when conditions allow.
Outside the park: From Cambridge to Brantford the Grand supports a high quality smallmouth bass �shery. This stretch is easily accessed by canoe or by foot, along the Cambridge to Paris and SC Johnson Rail Trails. Downstream of the Paris dam, walleye and rainbow trout are also found.
Grand River Conservation Authority | www.grandriver.ca 400 Clyde Road, P.O. Box 729 Cambridge, ON N1R 5W6
519-621-2761 | Fishing & flow info: 519-621-2763 ext. 2511
There are over 90 species of fish in the Grand River watershed.
The Grand River contains more than 50% of all the fish species found in Canada.
Up until the late 1700s, the Grand River was quite pristine and productive. Native species of fish included sturgeon, muskellunge and brook trout.
In 1994, the Grand River was designated a Canadian Heritage River.
The Dunnville Fishway has passed 27 different species of fish since 1995.
The Upper Grand River below the Shand Dam supports a world- renowned brown trout fishery.
Rainbow Trout from Lake Erie have been observed as far upstream as New Hamburg – 176 km upstream of Lake Erie – on the Nith River.
Tremendous angling opportunities for rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, pike, mooneye and channel catfish exist in the middle and lower sections of the Grand River.
Grand River Parks www.grandriver.ca/parks
Grand River Conservation AuthorityPO Box 729, 400 Clyde RoadCambridge, ON N1R 5A11-866-900-4722www.grandriver.ca
Did you know?
Special fishing regulations apply to certain areas. To �nd out when, where and what you can catch, please review these regulations on the MNR website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca or call the MNR at 1-800-667-1940.
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A Plan for the
Grand’s FisheriesThe Grand River and its tributaries have a well-deserved reputation as some of the best �shing areas in the country.
What’s also remarkable is that these high-quality lakes and streams are surrounded by some of the most intensively used land in Ontario. Rich farmland and fast-growing cities dominate the landscape. These human activities can result in lower water quality which can a�ect the number and types of �sh species that can survive in the rivers and streams of the watershed.
A plan has been developed to improve our waterways – and thus the �shery – and ensure that anglers will be able to enjoy dropping a line in the Grand for generations to come. It’s called the Grand River Fisheries Management Plan and it came together in the 1990s thanks to the work of a dedicated team of volunteers from across the watershed.
Since then, an Implementation Committee has been working to carry out a long list of projects to improving the �shery. They include stream cleanup projects, removal of small dams, tree plantings and river restoration projects. They have also been involved in the successful brown trout stocking program in the Grand and Conestogo rivers.
The committee has the support of its two sponsoring agencies – the GRCA and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – as well as fishing groups, environmental organizations, corporations, community
groups and others. The committee has been so successful that in 2009 it received the Recreational Fisheries Award from the Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. “The committee has been able to generate over $4 million worth of programs, projects and activities over the past eight to 10 years. The results of this work have been increased awareness and quality of the �sheries available on the Grand River and many of its tributaries,” the citation for the award says.
More information is available in the Fisheries section of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca.
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A Complete Guide to Fishing the Grand
Fishing Ontario’s Grand River Country is a complete guide to �shing the Grand River and its tributaries. If you’re planning to �sh in the Grand River watershed, this book is the place to start.
The second edition of this popular guide has been completely revised and updated with new information, colour photographs, maps, species charts and public river access points.
The guide was written by Stephen May, who has worked as a guide and �y-�shing instructor on the Grand. He also worked as Coordinator of the Grand River Fisheries Management Plan. May has published articles in Canadian Fly Fisher, Fly Fisherman and Fly Fusion magazines.
The guide is available at �shing out�tters, bookstores and online at www.grandriver.ca
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© Copyright. Grand River Conservation Authority, 2015This map is for information purposes only, and the Grand River Conservation Authority takes no resonsibility for, nor guarantees, the accuracy of all the information contained within the map. This map should not be used for navigation or analysis. Some data is an approximation.GRCA Data Sources: This map utilizes various data sets collected by the GRCA’s Geomatics Program in order to resolve watershed issues and aid in decision-making. Contact the GRCA for more information.© Government of Canada with permission from Natural Resources Canada. Portions of this map are produced under license from Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada with permission of Natural Resources Canada.
Eramosa RiverIn Rockwood C.A.
Upper GrandDundalk to Belwood Lake
Luther Lake
UpperConestogo River
Arthur to Drayton
Conestogo Lake
Middle GrandKitchener to Paris
Middle GrandParis to Caledonia
Lower GrandCaledonia to Lake Erie
Nith River
Special fishing regulations apply to certain areas. To �nd out when, where and what you can catch, please review these regulations on the MNRF website at www.ontario.ca/�shing or call the MNRF at 1-800-667-1940.
Middle GrandBelwood Lake to Kitchener
Glen Allan to St. Jacobs
LowerConestogo River
Horner/WhitemansCreek
Lake Belwood
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Shade’s MillsReservoir
Mill Creek
Speed River
Woolwich Reservoir
Guelph Lake
Cover photo: Larry Halyk